Ver. 82.-The 0,ft which implies all gifts. One very desirable habit of Ohrietian experience is the habit of connecting all spiritual privileges and all providential favours with the supreme Gift which God bas conferred npon us in the bestowal of his own Son. ' It is this habit which the apostle encourages by the appeal of the text. L THE o~.: GIFT Gon o~CE GA VE. 1. The Person given was his own Son-the Only Begotten, the Well-beloved. 2. The sacrifice on the part of the Giver involved in the Gift. The use of the word "spared" implies "withheld" not, which suggests that the Divine heart felt the sacrifice and surrender, yet that its pity devised it and consented to it as the greatest revelation of the nature of Deity. 3. The Gift was more than a gift; it was a delivering up, i.e. to earth, to the society of sinners, with the knowledge that he who was thns surrendered wonld meet with misunderstanding and mierepresen-· tation, would be maligned and insulted, rejected and persecuted, cruelly abused, and - unjustly slain. 4. The Gift was intended, for all; not for a select few, but for Jews and Gentiles alike, for sinners of every grade, of every nation. II. THE Mil-Y GIFTS Gon IS ALWAYS GIVING. I. Every possession and privilege is, in fact, the gift of God; all "'come down from above." However we may forget that we are needy and dependent recipients, the truth is that we have nothing which we b.sve not received. 2. Spiritual gifts are chiefly intended, such as are so fully enume- rated and characterized in this chapter; spiritual life in all its stages, from deliverance from condemnation, on to eternal, inseparable fellowship with Christ. 3. Yet, without question,, temporal gifts are included. Of these we sometimes say they come through natnral law; and this is so. Yet we, in so speaking of them, only describe the process, whilst the origin is in God alone. 4. These gifts are bountifully and generously bestowed. God bestows munificently as n King, tenderly as a Father; and we receive without any possibility of rendering repayment or recompense. _ III. THE INCLUSION OF THE !'!ANY Gll'TB IN THE ONE. 1. A doctrinal explanation of the inclusion here affirmed. The greater includes the less; and, as Chnst is the unspeakable Gift, his bestowal involves all other evidences of Divine generosity. The power which can give one, can give all; the disposition which could plan the one, can bestow nll; and the mediation and advocacy of Christ are such that they are to be regarded as the cb.snnels by which the bounty of the Eternal flows copiously into human hearts and lives. 2. A practical explanation. Dwell upon the wonderful, significant, and precious phrase here employed by the apostle, "with him I" "Witl:!, liim" God gives his people pardon for their sins, a perfect model of goodness, a higher conception of human virtue, a powerful motive of obedience, a holy bond of brother- hood, a bright hope of everlasting life. As a matter of practical experience, this is eo in the history alike of individual Christians and of the world. Ver. 37.-Bpirittl,/J], 'llictory. It is not every good cause which, as far as we oan see upon earth, when opposed with human hostility, prospers and triumphs, at onoe, mani- festly, and for ever. This only proves that Providence takes a wider view than is pos- irible to us, and has purposes extendin~ far beyond this world. Dut the one great cause of moral goodness, the cause of Christ, is always really victorious. The warfare is )oat, the weapoDB eound, the Captain skilful, and victory certain. ,- L WHAT OOllllTJTUTU THE CBBIBTIAl!l's VIOTOBY. In the first age the conflict waa io a la.rge extent with open persecution. Jesus himself endured" tbe contradiction of OH. vm. 1-39.] THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 221
elnnere," o.nd w11raed hie o.postles to expect the same. In our time there is indeed per- secution for Ohrist'e eake to be endured, both open and secret; bat perhaps the dangers now to be dreaded are those of prosperity rather than of adversity. Pure Christianity hRB to combat scepticism, materialism, the eelr-indulgent habits of the a"e. Pure Ohristianity has to be upon its guard against superstitious views and habits, :nd mern outward compliance with public opinion. Such influences openly or insidiously threaten the religious life, especially of the young and the unwary. Hence the necessity of wo.tchfulness, of preparation, of the Divine ;panoply, of courage and endurance. For the promise is to "him that overcometh,' and the true soldier is ever the true conqueror. II. WHAT ENHANCES THE CHRISTIAN'S VICTORY. Christians are assured that they shall be "more than conquerors "--exceeding or triumphant conquerors. 1. The severity of the conflict. This is evidenced by the admitted power of the enemy and the variety of his attacks, by the number who in the past have been defeat.ed. by the foe of Christ, by the defection of many faint-hearted or disloyal combatants, and by the protraction of the conflict. 2. In contrast with all this has to be considered the thoroughness of the conquest. This is evidenced by the magnificence of the reward to the victors, by the vast number of those who shall share the honours of the victory, and by the glory and perpetuity of the triumph which shall follow. Ill. WHAT SECURES THE CHRISTIAN'S VICTORY. At first there may appear to be some incongruity in the expression, "more than conquerors through him that lO'IIM w." Yet upon reflection it will appear that he must indeed have loved us, to mingle in such a fray and to lead his soldiers and followers even unto his own death. .And the teaching alike of Scripture and of individual experience assures us (1) that Jesus conquered the foe for us, when he really overcame the world and Satan, by whom he seemed, to superficial observers, himself to be vanquished; and (2) that Jesus conquers the foe in us, giving us the example, the motive, the spiritual power and principle whioh ensure to us immortal victory.